Members of the Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU) conveyed their approval to the nationwide strike onApril 11 through a poll here on Thursday.

SRMU had previously stated that members of the organization would conduct a poll to get the opinion of its members on the proposed nationwide strike on the said day. The members voted in 36 places in the Salem Railway Division. The voice of the majority will be acknowledged by the association, and the All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF) will conduct the strike as proposed.

The AIRF has been involving in gathering support for its 36-points agenda to the Union Government, which include revisions in the recommendations of the Seventh Pay commission; cancellation of the New Pension scheme; rejection of Bibek Debroy Committee; and 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment in the railways as it would allow the entry of foreign committees, along with five percent annual increment to the employees and 10 percent increment with every promotion.

They had also demanded maintenance and expansion of railway quarters, reinstating scrapped allowances, and Performance Linked Bonus (PLB).

One of the members further stated that despite introducing new trains, the ministry had failed to make new appointments and many posts are still lying vacant. “There are vacancies in handling signals, gate operations at level crossings, and other works, yet the officials are reluctant to fill them,” he added.